Water softener



Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES SAMUEL S. SADTLEB, OF SPRINGFIELDTOWN SHIPQ MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYL- VANIA WATER SOFTENEB No Drawing.

General experience in the use of waters from natural sources forhousehold and similar purposes has established two classifications,namely hard and soft waters.

In general, the hardness of waters is attributable to the differentsalts of calcium and magnesium therein the presence of which in waterused for household purposes prevents the formation of lather when soapis employed until after a suflicient amount of soap has been used toeflect decomposition of the salt or salts to form precipitates andrender the water soft, after which the use of an additional amount ofsoap produces a lather. This is referred to merely to indicate anobjectionable feature in the use of hard waters for household anddomestic purposes, to remedy which water softening compositions arequite generally in use.

In the use of water softeners for softening water for householdpurposes, such as bathing or the laundering of clothes, no means hasheretofore been provided, as far as I am aware, for determining readilythe amount of the water softening composition necessary to be used toeffect the softening desired, the degrees of hardness of which may vary.

In the present invention I have provided not only a water softeningcomposition of marked efliciency, but also a composition including meansfor indicating when a sufiicient quantity of the softening reagent hasbeen introduced into water of any degree of hard ness to effectsoftening of the same.

The general object of the invention is to provide a water softener ofnovel composition having increased efliciency to effect softening ofwaters as compared with compositions heretofore in use.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a water softeningcomposition including means for indicating to the user thereof when asnfiicient quantity has been introduced into a body of water to effectthe desired softenin thereof.

A further 0 ject of the invention is to provide a water softeningcomposition including not only water softening and indicating con-,

stituents as above stated, but also including means having mildantiseptic characteristics Application filed January 10, 1927. SerialNo. 160,304.

which at the sametime are pleasing and fragrant.

To these and other ends my invention comprehends the composition ofingredients as hereinafter particularly specified, or their recognizedequivalents, combined in proportions approximating those hereinafterparticularly set forth.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of Water softeners, manufacturers usuallyhave employed crystallized sodium carbonate or soda crystals, with whichhave been embodied ingredients for providing a pleasant perfume. Thesaid last mentioned ingredients, however, have had no other purpose thanthat of providing an agreeable perfume or odor.

In the manufacture of a composition embodying my invention a mildanhydrous alkaline salt such as the sodium or potassium salt of asuitable weak acid or a mixture thereof (in admixture with othersuitable ingredients to be hereinafter mentioned) may be employed. Someof the weak acids which may be mentioned are carbonic, phosphoric, etc.

- One composition which may be employed in the production of a watersoftener embodying my invention, and which is the one at presentpreferred by me, consists of sodium carbonate (Na cO and sodiumbicarbonate (NaHCO 450 parts; phenolphthalein (dissolved in absolutealcohol) 1 part; oil of pine needles (dissolved in absolute alcohol) 9parts; oil of eucalyptus (dissolved in absolute alcohol) 9 parts. Theseingredients may be mixed together and formed into a powder or they maybe mixed together with suificient liquid to form a substance which maybe molded into cake or tablet form or they may be mixed together andused in liquid form. Or they may be mixed together and used in any otherpreferred form. The sodium bicarbonate is less intense in its alkalinitythan the sodium carbonate usually employed in crystalline 'form, yet itspresence increases the efficiency of the composition as a watersoftening agency.

It is to be understood broadly that I may employ in lieu of the Na COand the NaHCO any other suitable reagent which may be known as anequivalent thereof in the water softening art, and for and in lieu ofthe color reagent, phenolphthalein, I may employ some other coloredindicating medium, such as a so-called chrome blue which will produce adistinct color .change when the desired intensity of alkalinity of thewater has been produced to effect softening thereof by the introductionof the water softening means (sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate ortheir equivalents).

The proportions as above indicated may be varied within reasonablelimits without.

departing from my invention, and while it is preferred that essentialoils of the character indicated be employed, their use is not in factessential to my invention.

An important feature of my invention .is the employment of an ingredientmixed with the water softening reagent which, when the water hasattained the desired degree of softness, affords a color indicationclearly visible to the user and the appearance of which informs suchuser that the water has reached the required degree of alkalinity orsoftness. The presence of oil of pine needles and oil of eucalyptus, or.both, orother essential oils, is desirable, butthe absence thereof willnot detract or destroy the efliciency of the composition as a watersoftening reagent.

In the employment of a Water softening composition such as I havedisclosed herein, the manifestation of color (light pink) due to thepresence of phenolphthalein happens with hydrogen ion concentrationsranging from about 9.0 to 10.0.

In the use of the softener for laundry purposes it is desirable that anindicating reagent be employed, the indicating color of which is blue,but even if phenolphthalein be employed the color or dyeing effectthereof is so slight as to be practicably inappreciable or negligibleand therefore not seriously objectionable. For bathing purposes thewater softening composition including phenolphthalein in which theindicating color of light pink is entirely satisfactory may be employed.

It will be understood that the use of alcohol for dissolving the colorreagent and the essential oils is not obligatory but that the saidingredients may otherwise be incorporated with the water softeningreagents.

The water softener, embodying my invention may be prepared and used, asI have already suggested, in the form of a powder, and is preferably soprepared and used, but it may be prepared and distributed for use andused in any other form which may be preferred or desired for anyparticular purpose or reason.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s:

1. A composition of matter for the treatment of water includinganhydrous water softening reagents combined with means to indicate whenthe desired degree of softness of waterinto which the said compositionmay be introduced has been attained.

2. A composition of matter for the treatment of water comprising a mildanhydrous alkaline salt of a suitable weak acid as a water softeningreagent in combination with a chemical reagent which is adapted, whenthe composition is placed in water, to indicate when the desired degreeof softness has been attained by a change of color therein.

3. A composition of matter for the treatment of water including amixture of a suitable anhydrous alkaline salt as a water sofv.teningreagent and a suitable chemical reagent which, when the mixture isplaced in a body of Water, is adapted to indicate when the proper degreeof softness has been at- .tained by a color manifestation.

4. A composition of matter for the treatment of water including inadmixture a suitable anhydrous alkaline salt as a water softeningreagent, a suitable color reagent and a suitable essential oil.

5. A composition of matter for the treatment of water comprisin asuitable anhydrous alkaline salt of a mild acid as a water softeningreagent, phenolphthalein, and a suitable essential oil.

6. A composition of matter for the treatment of water comprising inadmixture a suitable anhydrous alkaline salt as a Water softeningreagent, phenolphthalein, oil of pine needlesand oil of eucalyptus.

7. A composition of matter for the treatment of water comprising inadmixture anhydroussodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate 450 parts asWater softening reagents, phenolphthalein 1 part, oil of pine needlesand oil of eucalyptus each 9 parts.

8. A composition for the treatment of water including in admixture asuitable anhydrous alkaline salt as a water softening reagent, and asuitable color reagent.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereuntosubscribed my name this 6th day of January, 1927.

SAMUEL S. SADTLER.

